Whole 30- A month in review

December 13th, 2018

This month I decided to try the Whole 30 Diet for a number of reasons. The main one being my hovering weight that hasn’t moved since my recovery from cancer but also I have had issues with my stomach dating back long before the big C.

How I came to the whole 30

I found the whole 30 because I follow a few health and fitness blogs. One of my big goals for the year was to lose all the weight I had gained while I was sick last year. so I work out I cycle to and from work and I was torturing myself with guilt every time I ate a pizza or a cake. The guilt and disappointment when I stepped on the scale started to negatively impact my mental health.

I know how to eat healthily. I have done slimming world multiple times with good results. But I don’t want to go back to that. I wanted to be able to manage my weight on my own.

so there was a blog post from nerd fitness that basically talked about the whole 30 which had some of the things I wanted in a diet:

To make me rethink my relationship with food
Help me figure out what Causes my stomach pains. so I can avoid them in future.
Give me a boost and a good kickstart.
something I can tailor to my needs.
So I convinced my husband to try it with me. because I thought accountability and support would help.

He lasted 8 days.

My husband is a fussy eater and if you are as well I cannot recommend this diet. Its hard enough when you are a human garbage can like me.

The Experience

For me the first few days where alright. Years of slimming world had me used to Changing how I eat. I knew I had to get rid of all the foods that act as a temptation. I had to prepare by picking out the new foods. things to cook and ensure it was filling.

Week 1 was hard. In no small part because my guts went into rebellion. my stomach hurt and I felt sick and get stuck running to the bathroom(sorry). but I persisted in part because those are normal symptoms for me (only worse) but also because they were expected.

Week 2 is interesting Tough because my work got pizza. Pizza being the only thing I really really miss. an I’m including milk and alcohol. I also think that weight loss is happening. I find it hard to judge. The start of week three was rough. Cravings seemed to hit hard. not helped by my husband bringing back diet 7up and chocolate biscuits into the house. I also broke a little on the no weighing or measuring yourself. good news I lost half an inch around the belly

Week 3 I didn’t realise how low my energy was before. It has gone up so much I am almost kicking myself. I find myself occasionally wondering if I should add another workout during the week. I am also finding myself being fidgety in work. I am having a much tougher time falling asleep because I am going to bed with an excess of energy. but even that isn’t a problem because of the energy boost. I suppose this is the ‘tiger blood‘ they talk about. It is a good feeling. definitely worth the price of admission

In week four I am coming to the end of the main 30 days. I still feel genuinely better. I realised I don’t have the brain fog that came with chemo and didn’t fully go away. Writing and coding both feel easier. I am starting to wonder what I am going to do when this is over. My husband is expecting to go back to our usual diet and I am not sure I want to. because I don’t miss them much.

The Result

30 days. some feeling incredibly long. Others flying by and making me feel really good. but I had some criteria for if I considered the diet a success. not just weight loss but improved gut health and more energy.

Here are the results

  • My stomach has been a lot more stable over the last two weeks.
  • I have more energy.
  • I am thinking clearer.
  • I feel a lot more in control of what I eat
  • I have lost 9 pounds 

The 9-pound weight loss is fantastic it took me from 17 stone 9 down to 17 I still have a way to go and December to contend with but it is my most successful weight loss attempt since I beat cancer.    what is interesting is I am not as tempted by the foods I wasn’t having. I have some social events this week that I will be drinking for but aside from that, I am broadly sticking to the diet so far. 

I can recommend the diet if you are someone who eats full big meals, you have to be willing to eat enough to carry you through till your next meal time.

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